montgomery



March 5, 1957 J. R. MONTGOMERY 2,783,706

ANTI-'JUMPER FOR TICKET PRINTING AND ISSUING MACHINE Filed June 25. 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l (15k/ZZ? /WO w# March 5, 1957 J. R. MONTGOMERY 2,783,706

ANTI-JUMPER FOR TICKET PRINTING AND IssUING MACHINE Filed June 25, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ELECTING AND PRI NT) NG HEA D ON MAIN HAFT IN V EN TOR.

Ifo/m //Vargonzefg,

States PatentO ANTIJUMPER FOR TICKET PRINTING AND ISSUING MACHINE John R. Montgomery, Chicago, Ill., assignor to American Totahsator Company, Inc., Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Maryland Application `lune 25, 1953, Serial No. 364,165

6 Claims. (Cl. 101-66) This invention relates to machines for selectively printing and issuing tickets, and has for its principal object the provision of a new and improved machine of this type.

It is a main object of the invention to provide in a machine for selectively printing and issuing tickets, mechanism for preventing the initiatio-n of a new cycle of operation of the machine before the machine has completely restored to normal from a previous operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a ticket machine a mechanism for preventing l-ocking in depressed position a selection key before the machine has restored to normal from a previous cycle of operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a ticket printing and issuing machine mechanism for preventing initiation of a new cycle of operation of the machine before complete restoration from a previous cycle, which mechanism can be installed and maintained in proper operating condition economically.

Further objects of the invention not specifically mentioned here will be apparent from the detailed description and claims which follow, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of example and in which Fig. l is a fragmentary view of that part of a ticket machine employed in initiating a cycle of operation of the machine with the mechanism in normal position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, with the mechanism in fully operated position;

' Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view illustrating the invention; and

' Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View of a ticket machine showing the application of the devices of the present invention thereto.

' Machines for selectively printing and issuing tickets of the type shown in Patent 1,886,626, issued to H. D. Black on November 8, 1932, contains a plurality of keys, and responsive to the depressing of one of these keys it is locked in depressed position and a cycle of operation of the machine initiated to cause it to cut a length of ticket stock from a weband to print upon that length desired indicia, including a number corresponding to the depressed key. Customers for the tickets frequently purchase a plurality of tickets containing the same number and'oftentimes the ticket seller, in eort to make haste, depresses the desired key to initiate a repeat operation of the machine before the key has completely restored to normal, with the result that the key is locked in depressed position, -but anew cycle of operation of the machine is not initiated since the mechanisms of the machine were not in normal position when the key was depressed. It is then necessary that the machine be unlocked and the depressed key released to restore the machine completely to normal before a new cycle of operation can be in` itiated. Thus it will be seen that the eiforts of the ticket seller to speed up the issuance of the ticket beats the key andY results in a slowing down of that operation to the great annoyance of both the ticket seller and the customer.

The present invention provides a mechanism for pre-y venting depressing a key far enough to cause it tobe locked in depressed condition prior to the complete restoration of the machine from a `previous cycle of operation. With the mechanism included in the machine, should the ticket seller attempt to speed up vthe issuance of tickets by depressing a selecting key before that key and the machine have completely restored to normal, he will be unable to depress the key far enough to cause it to be locked in depressed condition, and since nothing will happen he will release the key, permitting it to completely restore and thereby condition the machine for the initiation of a new cycle of operation.

Tne invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein 1 illustrates one ,V of the selecting keys of the machine, which is pivoted for rotation around an axis 2 and contains a projection 3 that extends into a slot 4 in a key tube 5 that is journaled in the machine for rotation around its axis. The key tube 5 extends from side plate to side plate of the machine and contains a slot, such as y4, for each of the several keys of the machine. Mounted upon the key tube 5 is a block 6 from which a pin 7 projects through a suitable opening in the side plate of the machine. As the key is depressed, the tube 5 is rotated from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1, to the position shown in Fig. 2, pin 7 moving to the right during this rotation of the tube.

Mounted upon the side plate A of the machine, Fig. 4, is a lever 8 and a stirrup latch 9 which bears against the end of the lever when the mechanism is in normal position. Pin 7 engages the lever 8, and movement of the pin 7 rotates the lever 8 around the axis 10 upon which the lever is pivoted. The end of the lever 8 is elevated and stirrup latch 9, pressed by suitable spring means 11, moves under lever 8 thereby to lock the lever in rotated position, and through the pin 7 and tube 5 to lock the key in depressed condition. It will be noted that with the key depressed, the lower edge of the slot 4 moves into close proximity to the under edge of the projection 3, thereby preventing return to normal of the key 1. With the tube rotated into the position shown in Fig. 2, this lower edge of the slot 4 moves into the path of the projection 3A of the other keys, thereby preventing operation of any other key so long as `one key is in de pressed position. The keys control the selecting mech-` anism by which the number to be printed on the ticket is determined, in the manner that will be best understood from the above Black patent or from my prior Patent No. 2,594,787, issued April 29, 1952.

When the ticket machine is used in conjunction with a totalisator system in which the issuance :of a ticket is registered, the actual operation of the machine is initiated electrically after the registration is'made. The totalisator transmits an electrical impulse to the machine to start the cycle of operation. In such an installation there is mount-y ed upon the side plate of the machine a start lever 15 which bears against a main spring 16 so that movement of the lever will move that lspring into engagement with a companion spring 17, thereby to close an electrical circuit, not shown, over which the registration of the issuance of the ticket is effected and the cycle of operation is initiated.

Start switch lever 15 contains a slot 18 through which a bar 19 is projected. The bar 19 contains a shoulder 20, best seen in Fig. 3, which registers with the start switch lever 15. The opposite end of the =bar 19 contains an elongated slot 21 through which the pin 7 is projected. A spring 22 encircling the bar 19l bears against the pin 7. As the pin 7 moves from the position shown in Fig.,l, to the position shown in Fig. 2, spring 22 is compressed, and after the movement of the pin 7 has progressed far enoughv to permit the stirrup latch 9 to fall undery the lever =8, the tension compressed into spring 22 will be sutiicient to overcome the tension of main spring VA16 and bar 19 will be moved to the right to close spring 16 against spring 17 thereby to initiate a cycle of operation ofthe=machine.

` The '-main shaft B of the machine carries a cam 25 which makes one complete revolution in ythe direction of the arrow for each cycle of operation of the machine. Cam vZS'carriesV a pin 26 which moves into engagement with the 7bar 19 nea-r the end of the cycle, elevating that bar and thereby moving the shoulder 2d out of engagement with the start lever 15 to permit the tension of spring 1,6 vtorestore the lever 15 to the normal position in which itis Yshown in Figs. l and 3. The bar i9 then extends pastthe lever 15 and is held in elevated position by the engagement iof `that lever with the bottom edge of the bar.

When the cycle of operation of the machine is 4being completed, stirrup latch 9 is operated through link 30 by a" cam, not shown, moving in unison with cam 25, to rotate it against the tension of spring 1l and thereby out of engagement with the lever S to permit the pin 1*', key tube and key 1 to restore to normal. Pin 7 engages the end of slot 21 to pull the bar 19 lto the left and spring 31 moves the bar downwardly when the shoulder 20 has moved past the lever 1S.

With the mechanism as thus far described, should the ticket seller again depress key 1 before it has restored to normal, bar 19 will be in elevated position and when moved to the right by the further depressing of the key will slide through the lever and the key will be locked in depressed position without operating spring i6 against :its companion spring 17 to initiate la new cycle of opera tion of the machine. The ticket seller will be helpless to remedy the situation and the machine will remain locked up until it is opened and the mechanism restored to nor mal manually.

To prevent such a contingency is the main purpose of the present invention. in its preferred form, the mechanism consists of a bracket `4t) mounted upon the side plate of the machine and carrying a yoke 41 pivoted thereon and having arms 42 engaging the upper and lower surfaces of the bar 19 in such a manner as to permit free longitudinal movement of the bar and to cause elevation of the bar to rotate the yoke di around its pivot. Also pivoted upon the bracket 4i! is a latch 43 which contains a shoulder 44. The opposite end of the yoke 41 extends under the latch 43 to hold it in elevated position out of engagement with the pin 7 so long as the -bar 19 is in its lowermost position. A spring a5,

mea to rae latch 4s and yon, 4r, is tensiones by the yoke during rotation of the yoke.

Whenthe Ybar 19 is elevated, yoke 4t is rotated thereby lowering latch 43 into engagement with the pin 7. As the pin 7 moves towards its normal position after the stirrup latch 9 4has been released 'from the lever S, shoulder 44 is moved downwardly behind the pin-7 by the tension built pp in spring 45 by thc rotation or" the yoke. The shoulder 44 isv located so as to limit movement of the pin to the right, as shown in the drawings, at such a point 'that upward movement of the lever S is arrested before its bottom edge has moved past the stirrup latch 9, as shown in Fig. 3. So long as the bar 19 remains in elevated position, as it will until pin 7 has moved completely into its normal position, it will be impossible for the ticket seller to depress a key far enough to lock it in depressed position. Noting the blocked condition of the key, he will remove pressure from it, whereupon the key will completely restore to normal, bar 19 will move back into its lowermost position, and yoke 41 will be rotated in a reverse direction to elevate the latch 43 and shoulder 44 out of engagement with the pin. The machine now being completely restored to normal, `the key may be depressed and a new cycle of operation initiated in the hereinabove explained manner.

The mechanism Iby which the ley is latched to prevent 4 false operation of the machine is simple and may `be economically installed and maintained in proper working condition. False operation of the machine is denitely prevented and the sale of a plurality of tickets bearing the same number, to a single customer, is effected at the maximum speed of the machine.

While I have chosen to show my invention by illustrating and describing a preferred embodiment of it, I have done so by way of example only, as there are many modifications and adaptations which can be made by one skiiled in the art within the teachings of the invention. l

Having thus complied with the statutes and shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, what I consider new and desire toA have protected lby Letters `Patent is pointed out in the appended claims.

l. In a ticket machine for selectively printing and issuing tickets responsive to the depressing of a key which is locked in depressed position during the cycle of operation of the machine and restored to itsnormal positionA at the end ot' that cycle; a mechanism for preventing the initiation of a new cycle of operation of the machine until the key depressed to initiate a previous cycle has been completely restored to its normal position, com-k prising: a pin, means responsive to the depressing of a key for moving said pin from its normal to its operated position; a longitudinally movable bar having a slot through which said pin projects, a statt switch lever en-. gaged by said bar, means coupling said pin to said bar. to cause movement of the pin into operated positionto move the bar longitudinally thereby to operate said start switch lever to initiate a cycle of operation of the machine; cam means for elevating said bar during the cycle of operation of the machine; means for holding the bar in elevated position to the end of the cycle and restora. tion o said pin to its normal position; a latch lowered into engagement with said pin by the elevation of said bar; and a spring for moving said latch into the path of said pin to prevent movement of the pin into its `op.-v erated position prior to its return to its normal position: and consequent lowering of the bar.

2. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which the har extends through a slot in the start switch lever and. has a shoulder that engages the start lever to moveitV from normal to operated position as the bar moves longitudinally and in which the shoulder is disengaged from the start lever by the upward. movement of the bar, spring means for restoring the start switch lever to its normal position thereby to hold the bar in elevated position until the pin reaches its normal position.

3. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which a pivotally mounted yoke engages the bar and engages the latch to hold the latch Yout of engagement with the pin which yoke is rotated by the upward movement of the bar to lower the latch into engagement with the pin and to tension the spring by which the latch is pressed into the path of the pin. K

4. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which there is a pivoted lever that is rotated upwardly by movement of the pin to operated position; a stirrup latch past which the lever is thus rotated; and a spring for moving the. latch under the lever to hold the key depressed; and in. which the latch blocks the movement of the pin towards operated position before the lever has moved far enough, to permit the stirrup latch to swing under the lever, thereby to prevent locking of a key depressed betorethe bar has descended from its elevated position.

5. In a ticket printing and issuing machine, a mech` anisrn for preventing locking or selecting key in operatedposition to initiate a cycle of operation of the machine prior to the complete restoration to normal of the mali chine and key by which a preceding cycle of operation isfV initiated, comprising: a pin moved by the depressing 'of a selecting key; apivoted lever engaged by said pin ensayos raised by the movement thereof; a stirrup latch movable under the lever in raised position thereby to hold the lever in that position and the key in depressed position; a start switch lever having a slot at one end; a bar extending through said slot; a shoulder on the under side of said bar engaging said switch lever, said bar containing a slot through which said pin projects; a spring encircling said bar and against which the pin bears, said pin on moving responsive to the depressing of a key compressing said spring to move the bar longitudinally and operate said start switch lever after said stirrt'ip latch has moved under said lever; means for elevating said bar during the cycle of operation of the machine to disengage said shoulder from the switch lever thereby` to permit the lever to return to its normal position; a pivoted yoke engaging said bar and rotated thereby as the bar is elevated; a latch lowered into engagement with the pin by the rotation of the yoke; a spring extended between the latch and yoke and tensioned by the rotation of the yoke to move the latch into the path of the pin, said latch when in the path of the pin preventing sufficient movement of the pin to permit the stirrup latch moving under the lever so long as the bar remains in elevated position.

6. A mechanism for preventing locked in operated position a selecting key of a ticket printing and issuing machine prior to the complete restoration of the machine to normal from a previous cycle of operation of the machine, comprising: a key tube rotated around its axis by an operation of a selecting key; a pin carried by said tube; a crank arm engaged by the pin and rotated thereby as the tube rotates; a latch stirrup engaging said arm and movable into the return path of the arm when the key is in operated position; a starting switch; a start bar moved longitudinally by said pin to operate said switch to initiate a cycle of operation of the machine; means for ele vating said start bar out of engagement with said switch during the cycle of operation of the machine; a pivoted arm rotated by the upward movement of said start bar; a latch moved into the path of said pin by said rotation of said pivoted arm, said latch preventing movement of the pin far enough to permit the latch stirrup to lock the selecting key in operated position so long as said start bar remains in elevated position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,886,626 Black Nov. 8, 1932 1,966,657 Von Pein July 7, 1934 1,983,247 Saxby Dec. 4, 1934 1,992,767 Pierson Feb. 26, 1935 2,097,485 Helsel Nov. 2, 1937 2,269,644 Bratt Jan. 13, 1942 2,344,377 Vigborg Mar. 14, 1944 2,594,787 Montgomery Apr. 29, 1952 

